When a band has been around for roughly 40 years, it must find ways to amuse and interest itself without boring and alienating the fans. No one can ever do both sides full justice, because some fans will never be happy at the exclusion of a favorite song, and some bands are always too eager to please.

Skillet

To casual observers, there was a big modern rock concert headlining the Miller Lite Oasis on Thursday night at Summerfest. On first glance, they'd be right. Skillet's show had all of the trappings: thrashing guitars, a big sea of banging heads in the stands and lead singer and guitarist John Cooper flailing across the stage as he traded vocals with drummer Jen Ledger on the opening "Hero." What separated Skillet from much of its mainstream brethren, though, were the messages in its grinding melodies. As one of the highest-grossing Christian rock bands, its over-the-top opening song, accompanied by comic book images of the band on a stage-wide video screen, lyrically pleaded for a higher power. As plumes of smoke filled the stage for "Whispers in the Dark," Cooper offered reassurance in his faith. Dipping early into the recently released album "Rise" for its current single, "Sick of It," he testified about the Bible as a source for inspiration. Fans cheered and raised their hands as towers of flames and pyrotechnic sparks burst from the stage. | July 5, 2013»Read Full Article

John and Korey Cooper of Skillet are no newbies to The Big Gig. The two live in Kenosha and landed their first festival headline gig at Summerfest in the band's early years. Today they answered 10 questions for Tap Milwaukee about being platinum artists, cheeseheads and oh yeah, a married couple. Skillet performs at Miller Lite Oasis at 10 p.m. Thursday, July 4. | July 4, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

ZZ Ward made the best of her first visit to Milwaukee today in playing "Put the Gun Down" next to Lake Michigan before her 8 p.m. performance at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard tonight. Though not visible in Tap Milwaukee's exclusive video, her trusted traveling companion, Muddy Waters -- her puppy -- joined her for the acoustic pre-show. | July 4, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

Music that seized the imaginations of millions and helped an uneasy nation in the '70s "Take It Easy." Bitter inner turmoil and addiction that destroyed relationships and nearly ruined lives. The story of the Eagles is, in the words of documentary filmmaker Alison Ellwood, "the classic tale of an American band."

"They were and are incredibly talented musicians and artists," said Ellwood, who directed the fascinating three-hour documentary "History of the Eagles" that aired on Showtime and was released to DVD this year. "There's something to take away from anyone who has the dream and vision to create something that's long lasting." | July 4, 2013»Read Full Article(14)

In addition to drum fills, guitar solos and the cheers of thousands, jokes and laughter have been a recurring part of the Summerfest soundtrack. Bob Hope was one of Summerfest's first big headliners, with two shows at County Stadium in 1969, and in the decades since then Billy Crystal, Jay Leno, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and others have been booked to play a Summerfest stage or tent.

After 2007, the funny stuff appeared to be over at Summerfest. But Friday, comedy makes a comeback. Fest favorite Black is bringing along comedians John Bowman and Mike Wilmot as part of a special comedy day at the BMO Harris Pavilion. | July 4, 2013»Read Full Article(8)

It must be a conspiracy. Two different bundles of ebooks for sci-fi readers have just been released, both based on the choose-what-you-pay plan, both partially benefiting charities and both blessedly DRM-free. If you choose both bundles and pay an average amount, you'll download 14 ebooks for about $20.

The Humble eBook Bundle II is not the least bit humble in book quality. The four books in this bundle include Robert Charles Wilson's"Spin" (which I have wanted to read since Jo Walton wrote so eloquently about it a few years ago); Cherie Priest's steampunk/zombie novel "Boneshaker"; Lois McMaster Bujold's "Shards of Honor," the first novel in her long-running Vorkosigan Saga; and Cory Doctorow's YA hacker tale "Little Brother." If you pay more, even a penny more, than the average payment (which was $9.26 when I wrote this post), you receive two additional ebooks: Peter S. Beagle's fantasy classic "The Last Unicorn," in an expanded edition with extra materials, and actor Wil Wheaton's memoir "Just a Geek: Unflinchingly Honest Tales of the Search for Life, Love, and Fulfillment Beyond the Starship Enterprise." | July 4, 2013»Read Full Blog Post